2019 Thunder Over Louisville happening one week early due to Easter

Most of the other Kentucky Derby Festival events will still happen the week of the Kentucky Derby.

Wednesday, June 20th 2018, 11:56 AM EDT

Updated:

Wednesday, June 20th 2018, 3:33 PM EDT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Easter is creating a shakeup for next year's Thunder Over Louisville.

The Kentucky Derby Festival will have the fireworks show a week earlier than normal because of the holiday.

Easter is Sunday, April 21, which is the normal weekend for Thunder Over Louisville. As a result, Thunder will take place on Saturday, April 13.

Most of the other Kentucky Derby Festival events will still happen the week of the Kentucky Derby.

Next year's Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 4.

Louisville native Marita Willis will serve as chair for the 2019 Kentucky Derby Festival. She works as a major gift officer for the American Red Cross. She follows Scott Watkins, who will continue serving as immediate past chair for KDF. Willis has been a member of the Derby Festival Board since 2010 and a member of the KDF Executive Board since 2012.

Marita Willis will serve as the chair for the 2019 Kentucky Derby Festival.

Willis has been on several Derby Festival committees including KDF's Diversity Committee, the U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest and the Basketball Classic.